U.S. patent application number 10/372997 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for knowledge-based system and method for automated vehicle packaging design.
Invention is credited to Cumming, Hugh W., Lu, Yun, Rhodes, Louis A., Salani, Joseph L..
Application Number | 20040167760 10/372997 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32868622 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040167760 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Salani, Joseph L. ; et
al. |
August 26, 2004 |
Knowledge-based system and method for automated vehicle packaging
design
Abstract
A vehicle package design system includes a data store of vehicle
packages defined in terms of spatial dimensions relating vehicle
hard points. A design engine adaptively renders a vehicle space
based on a vehicle package, and, in response to user input defining
a required change in a target spatial dimension, alters the target
spatial dimension according to the required change, and alters one
or more potentially altered spatial dimensions based on alteration
of the target spatial dimension. A user interface communicates
potentially altered spatial dimensions to the user, including
indicating them as potentially altered according to alteration of
the target spatial dimension. In further aspects, the user
interface is adapted to accept user input expressing a desire
whether to allow a potentially altered spatial dimension to change,
and the design engine preferentially maintains some potentially
altered spatial dimensions while altering other potentially altered
spatial dimensions based on the expressed preference.
Inventors: |
Salani, Joseph L.; (Oxford,
MI) ; Rhodes, Louis A.; (Farmington Hills, MI)
; Cumming, Hugh W.; (Orion Township, MI) ; Lu,
Yun; (Troy, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ralph E Smith
DaimlerChrysler Intellectual Capital Corporation
CIMS 483-02-19
800 Chrysler Drive
Auburn Hills
MI
48326-2757
US
|
Family ID: |
32868622 |
Appl. No.: |
10/372997 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
703/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 30/15 20200101;
G06F 2113/20 20200101; Y10S 707/99954 20130101; Y10S 707/99953
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
703/008 |
International
Class: |
G06G 007/48 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vehicle package design system, comprising: a data store of
vehicle packages defined in terms of spatial dimensions relating
vehicle hard points; a design engine operable to visually render a
vehicle space based on a vehicle package, wherein said design
engine is operable, in response to user input defining a required
change in a target spatial dimension, to alter the target spatial
dimension according to the required change, and to alter at least
one potentially altered spatial dimension of a plurality of
potentially altered spatial dimensions based on alteration of the
target spatial dimension; and a user interface having an output
operable to communicate the plurality of potentially altered
spatial dimensions to the user in a manner indicating them as
potentially altered according to the alteration of the target
spatial dimension.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface further has
an input adapted to accept user input defining an expressed
preference whether to allow a potentially altered spatial dimension
to change, and said design engine is further operable to
preferentially maintain a first potentially altered spatial
dimension while altering a second potentially altered spatial
dimension based on the expressed preference.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said output is further operable
to communicate a portion of the plurality of potentially altered
spatial dimensions to the user in a manner assigning responsibility
to the user to verify dimensions of the first portion following
alteration of the target dimension.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said output is further operable
to communicate scalar values associated with a portion of the
plurality of potentially altered spatial dimensions to the
user.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein said output is further operable
to communicate scalar values associated with a portion of the
plurality of potentially altered spatial dimensions to the user,
wherein said scalar values correspond to dimensions that will take
affect in accordance with a required change to a target dimension,
based on the expressed preferences.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one potentially
altered spatial dimension corresponds to non-target spatial
dimensions eligible for alteration based on alteration of the
target spatial dimension.
7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an active display to
which said design engine visually renders the product space.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an index and retrieval
system adapted to store an altered product package in said data
store as a new product package, and to retrieve the new product
package in response to a user query.
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an output operable to
communicate an altered vehicle package as a new vehicle
package.
10. A method of designing a product package, comprising: receiving
a product package defined in terms of spatial dimensions relating
product feature points; receiving a user input identifying a target
spatial dimension, identifying a plurality of potentially altered
spatial dimensions corresponding to non-target spatial dimensions
eligible for potential alteration based on alteration of the target
spatial dimension; and communicating the plurality of potentially
altered spatial dimensions to the user in a manner indicating them
as eligible for potential alteration.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a user
input defining a required change to the target spatial
dimension.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising altering the target
spatial dimension according to the required change.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising altering at least
one potentially altered spatial dimension of the plurality of
potentially altered spatial dimensions based on alteration of the
target spatial dimension.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving a user
input defining an expressed preference whether to allow a
potentially altered spatial dimension to change; and preferentially
maintaining a first potentially altered spatial dimension while
preferentially altering a second potentially altered spatial
dimension based on the expressed preference and alteration of the
target spatial dimension according to the required change.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating
present scalar values associated with a portion of the plurality of
potentially altered spatial dimensions to the user.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising communicating
potential scalar values associated with a portion of the plurality
of potentially altered spatial dimensions to the user, wherein said
potential scalar values correspond to dimensions that will take
affect in accordance with a required change to a target dimension,
based on the expressed preferences.
17. The method of claim 10, further comprising communicating a
portion of the plurality of potentially altered spatial dimensions
to the user in a manner assigning responsibility to the user to
verify dimensions of the first portion following alteration of the
target dimension.
18. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of receiving a
product package further corresponds to receiving a vehicle package
defined in terms of spatial dimensions relating vehicle hard
points.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to
computer-automated product design tools and particularly relates to
computer-automated systems and methods of vehicle package
design.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The process of vehicle packaging is an integral part of the
vehicle conceptualization and development process, and directly
affects decisions relating to vehicle theme selections. During the
vehicle packaging process, designers determine how the vehicle
components, including occupants, are fitted into the total vehicle
space. Downstream design and engineering changes are often coupled
with the packaging results.
[0003] It is desirable to employ software technologies to automate
the tasks and activities of the vehicle packaging process. It is
less desirable, however, to employ software applications that only
partially automate the packaging tasks, such as with hard coded
applications of process knowledge. Such a software application
would not, for example, be adapted to notify a user of potential
changes in non-target dimensions based on a required change in the
target dimension. Nor would such a software application be adapted
to allow a user to express a preference whether to allow a
potentially altered spatial dimension to change, and to comply with
the expressed preference in an adaptive fashion when altering one
or more non-target dimensions in compliance with SAE standards.
[0004] The hard coded vehicle package design software would suffer
from being unable to adapt to frequent design and engineering
changes in an automated fashion. For example, when a user changes
the distance from a driver's hip to the driver's heel (H To
HeelVertical), the distance between the driver's hip and a first
rear passenger's hip (Couple Driver-1st) might automatically change
in accordance with SAE standards, while the distance from the first
rear passenger's hip to the first rear passenger's heel (1st H To
HeelVertical) could remain the same. With the hard coded process,
the user would not be able to select to hold the Couple
driver-1.sup.st constant, while allowing the 1.sup.stH to
HeelVertical to change. As a result, a user who wished to
frequently change the 1st H To HeelVertical in accordance with a
change in the H To HeelVertical, while maintaining the Couple
Driver-1st at a constant value in accordance with SAE standards,
would have to repeatedly enter new values for both the H To
HeelVertical and the 1st H To HeelVertical. This problem would be
compounded when combined with a circumstance in which a user wished
to frequently change up to 12 dimensions in accordance with SAE
standards. The need remains, therefore, for a vehicle package
design system and method that is able to adapt to frequent design
and engineering changes in an automated fashion. The present
invention fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, a vehicle package
design system includes a data store of vehicle packages defined in
terms of spatial dimensions relating vehicle hard points. A design
engine adaptively renders a vehicle space based on a vehicle
package, and, in response to user input defining a required change
in a target spatial dimension, alters the target spatial dimension
according to the required change, and alters one or more
potentially altered spatial dimensions based on alteration of the
target spatial dimension. A user interface communicates potentially
altered spatial dimensions to the user, indicating them as
potentially altered according to alteration of the target spatial
dimension. In further aspects, the user interface is adapted to
accept user input expressing a preference whether to allow a
potentially altered spatial dimension to change, and the design
engine preferentially maintains some potentially altered spatial
dimensions, while altering other potentially altered spatial
dimensions based on the expressed preference.
[0006] The present invention is advantageous over previous vehicle
package design systems and methods in that users can readily
identify potentially altered dimensions and preferentially allow
alteration of some dimensions in favor of others. Users can thus
change a vehicle package design in a customizable fashion that
complies with SAE standards. Further areas of applicability of the
present invention will become apparent from the detailed
description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the
detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the
preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of
illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description, claims, and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle package design system
in accordance with the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a screen shot depicting multiple graphic user
interface components in accordance with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting a user interface
component in accordance with the present invention that is operable
to import a digital vehicle package, to output spatial dimensions
of the package, and to accept input of spatial dimensions to the
package;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a screen shot depicting a total vehicle space
rendered to an active display in accordance with the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting a user interface
component in accordance with the present invention that is operable
to accept user input identifying a target spatial dimension,
identify potentially altered spatial dimensions, accept user input
defining a required change to the target dimension, and communicate
present and future values of potentially altered spatial
dimensions; and
[0013] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram depicting a method of designing a
vehicle package in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The present invention is generally described below with
reference to a vehicle package design tool, and is particularly
described below with reference to automobile package design. It
should be readily understood, however, that the present invention
may be implemented in a form for designing vehicle packages of
types other than automobile packages. Further, it should be readily
understood that the present invention may be implemented in a form
for designing product packages of a type other than vehicle
packages. Moreover, the description of the preferred embodiment is
intended to be illustrative of the present invention, and not to
limit the scope of the present invention. Thus, variations that do
not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are
intended to be disclosed herein, and are further claimed as the
present invention.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle package design system 10
communicates with a data store 12 populated with digital vehicle
packages defined in terms of spatial dimensions relating vehicle
hard points. A user interface of system 10 has an output 14, such
as an active display, communicating options to the user in the form
of the Graphic User Interface (GUI) components of FIG. 2. Thus, the
user can communicate a selection 16A-16B (FIG. 1) of a particular
package to system 10 via an input 18 of the user interface, such as
a keyboard and mouse. In turn, import function 20 of system 10
imports selected digital vehicle package 22 as current digital
vehicle package 24 based on selection 16B.
[0016] Design engine 26 of system 10 has a visual rendering
function 28 that visually renders current vehicle design package 24
to the active display in two ways. Firstly, visual rendering
function 28 populates inputs of package parameter input GUI
component 30 of FIG. 3 according to the parameters (dimensions
relating vehicle hard points) of current digital vehicle package 24
(FIG. 1), thereby communicating total vehicle space 32 to the user.
Secondly, visual rendering function 28 visually renders total
vehicle space 32 to the active display in the form of adaptive
spatial display GUI component 34 of FIG. 4. Thus, total vehicle
space 32 (FIG. 1) can be effectively communicated to the user in a
variety of ways, and the present invention preferably employs
multiple communication techniques.
[0017] In operation, the user can input a required change 36A-36B
to a parameter by typing a new value in a corresponding field text
box of GUI component 30 (FIG. 3). Dimension alteration function 38
of design engine 26, in turn, affects changes to current digital
vehicle package 24 based on required change 36B and dimensional
inter-relationships 40. For example, if required change 36B defines
a change to H To HeelVertical, dimension alteration function is
operable to alter H To HeelVertical according to required change
36B, and is operable to alter Couple Driver-1.sup.st based on
required change 36B in accordance with dimensional
inter-relationships 40 and the value of 1.sup.stH to HeelVertical.
The changed current digital vehicle package is then rendered to the
active display as total vehicle space 32 by visual rendering
function 28.
[0018] The present invention particularly differs from the prior
art by addition of vehicle dimension modification GUI component 42
of FIG. 5. Component 42 allows a user to specify a target dimension
44A-44B (FIG. 1) as at 46 (FIG. 5), where H To HeelVertical has
been selected with a mouse click on a corresponding radio button.
In turn, dimension alteration function 38 (FIG. 1) is operable to
identify potentially altered spatial dimensions 48A-48B based on
target dimension 44B and dimensional inter-relationships 40, and
communicate them to the user via packaging knowledgebase
subcomponent 50 (FIG. 5). Thus, packaging knowledgebase
subcomponent 50 of GUI component 42 is operable to communicate
modification rules to the user, where the communicated rules are
specific to the target dimension.
[0019] In a presently preferred embodiment, packaging knowledgebase
subcomponent 50 communicates the target dimension to the user along
with an opportunity to input a desired change to the target
dimension. Packaging knowledgebase subcomponent 50 further
communicates the potentially altered dimensions in a manner
indicating them as potentially altered according to the alteration
of the target spatial dimension. In one aspect, packaging
knowledgebase subcomponent 50 identifies a portion 51A (Verified
Dimensions) of the potentially altered spatial dimensions to the
user in a manner assigning responsibility to the user to verify
those dimensions following alteration of the target dimension. In
another aspect, packaging knowledgebase subcomponent 50 also
communicates a portion 51B (Effected Dimensions) of the potentially
altered spatial dimensions to the user in a manner expressing
availability to the user of an opportunity to express a preference
whether to allow a potentially altered spatial dimension to change.
Thus, the user can input a preference, for example, by clicking
with a mouse on a corresponding checkbox to identify whether the
user wishes to "free" the parameter to change (unchecked), or
"hold" the parameter (checked), thus maintaining the spatial
dimension.
[0020] When a user expresses a preference 52A-52B (FIG. 1),
dimension alteration function 38 is operable to preferentially
maintain a first potentially altered spatial dimension while
altering a second potentially altered spatial dimension based on
the expressed preference. For example, if a user selected to "free"
1.sup.st H To HeelVertical, and "hold" Couple Driver-1.sup.st,
while requiring a change in H To HeelVertical, then dimension
alteration function 38 is operable to change H To HeelVertical and
1.sup.stH To HeelVertical based on the required change to H to Heel
Vertical, and based on Couple Driver-1.sup.st being "held" or
essentially constant. Dimensional inter-relationships 40 assist in
this function by providing information on how dimensions
inter-relate.
[0021] The information provided by dimensional inter-relationships
40 can take various forms. For example, dimensional
inter-relationships 40 can be defined in terms of separate methods
for modifying each target dimension, with a returnable list of
potentially altered spatial dimensions developed for each target
dimension. These methods can then use switch and/or if-else
statements defining all the necessary cases for various
combinations of checked boxes to preferentially alter dimensions in
accordance with SAE specifications. The alteration can include use
of formulas, maps, and/or lookup tables to arrive at a new value
for a non-target dimension based on an alteration in a target
dimension, and/or values of other dimensions, but corresponding
values between dimensions according to various circumstances are
well-known in the art of vehicle package design, so that this
design aspect should be readily understood by one skilled in the
art.
[0022] In another example, dimensional inter-relationships 40 can
be defined in terms of functions for sequentially enqueueing
changes to dimensions in accordance with expressed preferences and
present and/or future values of various inter-related spatial
dimensions. These changes can then be automatically implemented to
modify various dimensions in sequence to achieve the desired
result. Thus, in the previous example with Couple Driver-1.sup.st
being "held" and 1.sup.stH to Heel Vertical being "free", the
method could first change the target dimension (H To HeelVertical),
and then change the "free" dimension (1.sup.st H To HeelVertical)
to re-obtain the original value of the "held" dimension (Couple
Driver-1.sup.st). This latter technique essentially automatically
performs all the steps a user would manually have to perform
according to the prior art to achieve the desired result. Thus,
since corresponding values between dimensions according to various
circumstances are well-known in the art, this latter technique
enables an easy conversion of an existing vehicle design package
tool, such as that implemented with CATIA version 4, to accomplish
the present invention.
[0023] In a presently preferred embodiment, the potentially altered
dimensions for various target spatial dimensions are explained
below. For example, for H30 (H To Heel Vertical), the Effected
Dimensions include Couple Driver-1.sup.st, 1.sup.stH To
HeelVertical, Driver and First Vertical Offset, Heel To Spindle,
and Wheelbase. Also, for H To Heel Vertical, the Verified
Dimensions include up angle, down angle, head to siderail, head to
header, legroom, headroom, hiproom, shoulder room, and belt height.
Further, for H31 (1.sup.st H To Heel Vertical), the Effected
Dimensions include Driver and 1.sup.st Vertical Offset, 1.sup.st
and 2.sup.nd Vertical Offset, 1.sup.st Legroom, and 2.sup.nd
Legroom. Also, for 1st H To Heel Vertical, the Verified Dimensions
include head to siderail, headroom, hiproom, shoulder room, and
belt height. Still further, for H87 (2.sup.ndH To Heel Vertical),
the Effected Dimensions include Couple 1.sup.st-2.sup.nd, 2.sup.ndH
To HeelVertical, Driver and First Vertical Offset, Heel To Spindle,
and Wheelbase. Also, for 2.sup.ndH To Heel Vertical, the Verified
Dimensions include head to siderail, headroom, hiproom, shoulder
room, and belt height. Yet further, for L50 (Couple
Driver-1.sup.st), the Effected Dimensions include Couple
1.sup.st-2.sup.nd. Also, for Couple Driver-1.sup.st, the Verified
Dimensions include head to siderail, legroom, headroom, hiproom,
shoulder room, and belt height. Yet still further, for
1.sup.st-2.sup.nd Vertical Offset, the Effected Dimensions include
1.sup.stH To Heel Vertical, 2.sup.ndH To Heel Vertical, 1.sup.st
Legroom, and 2.sup.nd Legroom. Also, for 1.sup.st-2.sup.nd Vertical
Offset, the verified dimensions include head to siderail, headroom,
hiproom, shoulder room, and belt height. It should be readily
understood that additional and/or alternative configurations of
inter-relationships may also be implemented, whether for
automobiles, other types of vehicles, or non-vehicular
products.
[0024] It should be noted that the Effected Dimensions and
Validated Dimensions can change based on preferences expressed by
the user. For example, if the user selects H to HeelVertical as the
target dimension and does not select to hold Couple
Driver-1.sup.st, then the legroom for the second rear passenger
would not need to be verified. If, however, the user selected to
hold Couple Driver-1.sup.st, then the legroom for the second rear
passenger would be affected by a change in H to HeelVertical, and
would need to be verified. Similarly, check boxes for some Effected
Dimensions can become active or inactive based on whether other
checkboxes have been selected, and dimensions can alternatively or
additionally be adaptively added to or removed from the GUI
subcomponent as the user selects and deselects various interrelated
combinations of checkboxes.
[0025] An additional feature of component 10 relates to
communication of scalar values associated with one or more
potentially altered spatial dimensions to the user. For example,
packaging knowledgebase subcomponent 50 is operable to communicate
present values of Effected Dimensions eligible for preference at
portion 51B. Further, component 10 is operable to communicate
output dimensions 54 that correspond to dimensions that will take
affect in accordance with a required change to a target dimension,
based on the expressed preferences. A prediction of the future
values can be made, for example, by creating a potential digital
vehicle package based on the current digital vehicle package, the
required change to the target dimension, and the expressed
preferences. A decision to apply the changes would simply replace
the current digital vehicle package with the potential digital
vehicle package, while a decision to change a preference, target
value, and/or required change would replace the potential digital
vehicle package with another potential digital vehicle package.
Thus, in accordance with the presently preferred embodiment, a user
can view a present value of a potentially changed dimension via
packaging knowledgebase subcomponent 50, and a potential value of
the same or another potentially changed dimension via output
dimensions 54. As a result, a user can experiment with changes and
perceive results before applying those changes to current digital
vehicle package 24 (FIG. 1). It follows that a user can view two
total vehicle spaces simultaneously according to the present
invention, wherein the first total vehicle space is a current
vehicle space, and the second vehicle space is a future and/or
potential vehicle space in accordance with a desired change to a
target dimension and one or more expressed preferences.
[0026] Further in accordance with the present invention, system 10
is operable to save current digital vehicle package 24 as at 56 as
a new digital vehicle package 58 in data store 12. This option can
be exercised repeatedly as the user modifies current digital
vehicle package 24, so that multiple designs can be saved, printed,
or otherwise output by system 10. Thus, system 10 is useful for
quickly and easily designing multiple digital vehicle packages by
adapting to frequent design and engineering changes in an automated
fashion in accordance with user preferences.
[0027] The method of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.
6, and begins at 60. Accordingly, a digital vehicle package
selection is received at step 62, and a corresponding digital
vehicle package is imported at step 64. The digital vehicle package
thus received at step 66 is used to render a total vehicle space to
an active display at step 68. An identification of a target
dimension received at step 70 is used to identify potentially
altered spatial dimensions at step 72, which are communicated to
the user at step 74. According to various aspects of the invention
as at 76, the dimensions can be communicated in different ways. For
example, a portion of the dimensions are communicated in a manner
that specifies that user's responsibility to verify the dimensions
at sub-step 76A. Also, a portion of the dimensions are communicated
in a manner that indicates a current value of the dimensions and
their eligibility for a preference at substep 76B.
[0028] Accordingly, user preferences are received at step 78, and a
required change to the target dimension is received at step 80. A
potential total vehicle space is then rendered to the active
display at step 82 and the user can either apply the changes as at
84, or return to steps 72, 78, and/or 80. Once the user selects to
apply the changes, the target dimension is altered according to the
required change at step 86, and one or more of the potentially
altered spatial dimensions is preferentially modified based on the
alteration of the target dimension and the expressed preferences at
step 88. The method then returns to step 66, where the modified
digital vehicle package is deemed received as the current vehicle
package. At any time, the user can elect as at 90 to save, print,
or otherwise output the current digital vehicle package as a new
vehicle package at step 92. The method ends at 94.
[0029] The present invention is generally described above with
reference to a vehicle package design tool, and is particularly
described above with reference to automobile package design. It
should be readily understood, however, that the present invention
may be implemented in a form for designing vehicle packages of
types other than automobile packages. Further, it should be readily
understood that the present invention may be implemented in a form
for designing product packages of a type other than vehicle
packages. In particular, application, implementation, and/or
modification of the present invention may occur in response to
shifts in availability of technology, business practice, and market
forces. Moreover, the description of the preferred embodiment is
intended to be illustrative of the present invention, and not to
limit the scope of the present invention. Thus, variations that do
not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are
intended to be disclosed herein, and are further claimed as the
present invention.
* * * * *